But it could also swing the other way: after the novelty wears off people might find it more respectful to pay attention to whoever you're sharing the table wit

But it could also swing the other way: after the novelty wears off people might find it more respectful to pay attention to whoever you're sharing the table with in that coffee shop. There have always been ways to momentarily withdraw from your company and preoccupy yourself with something personal, but still you don't see people suddenly pulling out a book or a newspaper and read a couple of paragraphs (to give a flawed analogy).